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My house is worthless — 18 Comments

  1. We have the same thing here, GD. It was introduced in 2011 as a ‘temporary emergency tax’ that was to be collected for just a couple of years. Needless to say, we are still paying it. When I bought this place about three years ago, I had to pay a ‘property transfer tax’, which was based not on the price I paid, but on the valuation by the local authority. They valued it at nearly four times the price I paid. (I did get it for a bargain-basement price, but not a quarter of its actual value). And of course, that valuation is what my annual property tax (ENFIA) is based on. They keep wittering on about how it’s only going to be until the economy improves, but I have yet to see any government willingly abandon any reliable form of tax take.

    And the most insidious thing about this tax is that it applies to all property, inhabited or not. So you have many people caught in a situation where, when times were better, they invested in some commercial property – a shop or something – which would generate a rental income. Of course, when the shit hit the fiscal fan, loads of businesses went under, and there are now thousands upon thousands of empty shops. These of course are producing no income for their owners, but the owner now has to pay a hefty tax every year on the property. Likewise, there are many people in the situation you posited, who inherited the property and now have next to no income due to the recession. And if they can’t afford to pay the tax, the government confiscates the property.

    It fucking stinks to high heaven.

    Edited to add that this brilliant little tax wheeze was a brainfart of the EU troika rather than the Greek government, although I imagine they didn’t take much persuading.

    • Of course the Great and Glorious Führers in the EU were behind it, just as they were behind the water tax here that was finally dumped [drowned?].  Just as I pressed “Upload” this appeared, which just goes to show someone reads my brainfarts!  Land tax is just the same as property tax – a subsistence farmer may have a lot of land but if it’s very poor quality it’s not going to produce much?

      • hi GD, if the figures in the article are correct it is a lot less than I have to pay in Kent. I am paying almost £2,000 in council tax and going up next year. N, looks like my friend Lisa I emailed you about some time ago will lose her house in Corfu. Carol

         

    • Nisakiman ,

      a temporary tax that has endured for six years ?   Phffffft   !

      Income tax was first implemented in Great Britain by William Pitt the Younger in his budget of December 1798 to pay for weapons and equipment in preparation for the Napoleonic Wars. Pitt’s new graduated (progressive) income tax began at a levy of 2 old pence in the pound (1/120) on incomes .

      As I’m sure you know it’s still going strong after 219 years .

  2. Hi G.D. ,

    My daughter works for HMRC and from the tales she tells logic is not high on their priorities.Unfortunately I fear that your rarified and subtle brand would not even register with them .Do not despair I (and I’m sure most of your followers) are in constant awe in the processes of your mighty intellect .

    • Mighty intellect my arse!  It’s obvious when you think about it.  A ton of gold is just a ton of metal and equal to a ton of feathers, until someone wants to buy it?

  3. My grandfather went to the town hall to inquire how much his rates would go up if he built a substantial outbuilding of certain dimensions. When they told him he said, “Oh good. I’ve just knocked it down so you can deduct that”.

    As you can imagine, they all had a good laugh and life went on.

  4. Weren’t that the good old days, back in medieval times, when they took a tithe? Today, no matter where, they rob you blind …

    • From my limited knowledge of history, the local monastery collected one tenth of every landowner’s produce.  They were the good times.  Between income tax, VAT, excise duties and various levies I would imagine we pay a hell of a lot more than a tenth!

    • That is an eminently fair offer.  I’m not selling just at the moment, but if I change my mind I shall take that as an opening bid.  The only condition is that I may withdraw from auction at any time for no given reason.

      I shall forward notice of your offer to the tax people.

  5. Oh back in something like 1913 the German Kaiser’s government introduced an emergency tax on sparkling wine to fund their navy (can you imagine the slogans: “Drink more Sekt! Asti for breakfast! Champagne for dinner! YOU know it’s your patriotic duty!” or ” Your Country Needs You…Chateau’d!”)

    Nothing more to be said about politicians and ‘temporary’ taxes.

    Wait until the Brits start whinging about all the tax hikes/new stealth taxes to pay for BrexSShite….I kid you not, there are people here who genuinely believe we will have MORE £, and less taxes, after we leave. To them I say: “Sorry Guys but you should have paid more attention in history class, at best- at absolute best- we’ll be about the same, at worst the Great British Rabbit Pelt will replace the pound.

  6. Robbing feckers  couldn’t wait to hike that and add it to their other ‘emergency ‘ taxes. I made them take the previous monies by their underhand tactics at source in drips and drabs, flat out refused to pay water taxes and I don’t imagine I will feel like making it easy this time either. Any  more €10 bids going?

    • No.  That’s not quite how bidding works.  You have to go higher than the previous one.  Unless of course you are doing a joint bid and plan on moving in with Bucko?

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